Executive Director (deputy)

Our client, Association & Events Management International (AEMI), is seeking an experienced senior manager to become the Executive Director for the Pension Investment Association of Canada (PIAC). The successful candidate will initially work with the incumbent Executive Director of PIAC for approximately one year as Deputy Executive Director, succeeding to the Executive Director role in April 2024. The individual will be an employee of AEMI and focused on its client, PIAC.

Position Requirements & Responsibilities

This position requires an experienced professional with a track record excelling in all association management functions including governance, member relations, strategic and operational planning (including plans for working committees), finance, communications, member services, advocacy, stakeholder relations, education, and events. Candidates will have keen insight to both the strategic leadership role and operational tasks that an Executive Director performs. Key success factors include the capacity to learn complex subject matter, mastery at member service, and a servant leadership approach.

In executing the responsibilities of Executive Director, the successful candidate will promote the interests of PIAC; foster the member-driven nature of PIAC by providing support to the Board of Directors, committees, and members in the attainment of their goals and the goals of PIAC’s Strategic Plan; proactively identify and propose initiatives that will add value for members.

Key areas of responsibility also include member relations and professional administration of membership records; PIAC communications (e.g., website, quarterly newsletter, media relations); advocacy and stakeholder relations; research including surveys.

The association excels due to the active involvement of its members and the Executive Director provides professional support to the Board, committees, and working groups. The Executive Director must be experienced in a lead resource role to volunteers including governance orientation; proactive issues identification and reporting; committee management (meeting logistics, minutes, etc.); coordinating research and analysis and performing such other tasks as may be required in support of the committee activities.

As a member-centred organization, there is a significant events portfolio each year that the Executive Director will oversee including several conferences, webinars, regional meetings, an annual general meeting, and meetings of the board and committees. Education content is determined by subject matter experts – by members, for members – although the Executive Director will assist in aligning learning and information with member needs.

The candidate must have advanced financial acumen to prepare budgets, report on finances, and administer investments and day-to-day financial matters within the policies established by the PIAC Board of Directors.         

Organizational Information

PIAC is a highly respected, national association of pension plans in Canada. Senior professionals employed by PIAC’s member funds are responsible for the oversight and management of over $2.7 trillion in assets on behalf of millions of Canadians. The 130 members include pension funds of all sizes and types across Canada in both the private and public sectors. PIAC’s mission is to promote sound investment practices and good governance for the benefit of pension plan sponsors and beneficiaries. It has four goals that frame the work of the association: investment best practices, knowledge sharing, advocacy, and good governance. For more information about PIAC, please visit www.piacweb.org.

AEMI is a full-service association management company based in Toronto. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with other AEMI employees to meet PIAC’s needs as a client (e.g., IT, finance, admin, event planning). PIAC has been a valued client served by AEMI principals for 20 years.

Application Details

Applications from qualified individuals may be directed to:

The Portage Group
Attn: Jack Shand, FCMC, Executive Partner
piac@portagegroup.com

A detailed job description is available upon request and will be provided to applicants selected for an interview.

Compensation (salary and benefits) is competitive with deputy executive director level positions in association management within comparably sized associations nationally, and dependent upon the individual candidate’s experience (source: CSAE Benefits and Compensation Report, August 2021).

Questions about the role may be directed to the email address above.

Consideration of candidates will begin immediately and continue until a hiring decision is made. Only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted.